In this issue:
Pg.2-3. Meet your
teachers
Pg.4. meet your
committee
Pg.5. Whats new?
Pg.6. Friendly
reminders.
Pg.7. Disco
Puckapunyal Kinder
Newsletter
Term One 2015
Contact Details
Mail: PO Box 39 Puckapunyal VIC 3662
Ph: (03) 5357699
Fax: (03) 57931188
Email:
Puckapunyal.kin@kndergarten.vic.gov.au
Website: puckapunyalkinder.org.au
President’s Message:
Welcome everyone to Puckapunyal Kindergarten, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year!
Hi everyone! My name is Jess McCabe and I am the current president of the Puckapunyal kinder committee. My
family posted here at the start of 2012. My husband is in Artillery and we have 4 kids -Christiana (8), Riley (6),
Ethan (5), and our newest edition Owen is 8 months old! We've had one child in the
kinder each year since we moved here but this is my first time on the committee! Now
that the term has started for both the 3 and 4 year old classes, it's great to see all
the new and familiar faces around. I am looking forward to meeting you all. I welcome
anyone to contact me, or any member of the committee, if you need to.
Our committee are planning some great things for 2015, including (but not limited to)
a disco for the kids and our annual trivia night for the parents. Any suggestions for
the kinder are always welcomed, these can be in person, in the suggestion box outside
the centre manager's office or via email at puckapunyal.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au.
Our next committee meeting details are on the notice board outside the 3 year old room and welcome any parent
that wishes to join. We are always looking for general committee members. I hope everyone is looking forward to
the year ahead, and our new families have settled in after their move.
Jess McCabe.
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Meet your kinder
teachers:
3 year old room:
Bree is the 3 year old program educator, who has been at Puckapunyal Kindergarten for
just over 3 ½ years. She lives in Seymour with her Husband Jason and two girls Matilda
(6) and Tabitha (4). Bree really enjoys working with children, they are very honest (and
keep you honest too) and surprise her every day with their development and ability to just
BE. It’s a great feeling to be silly with the children to make them laugh. When she is not at
kinder (and due to popular belief of the children she doesn’t actually live at kinder), she is
a wife, mum, daughter, sister and friend. Family is very important to her and she loves
spending time with them. Bree really enjoys 4x4ing and camping up in the high country. She also enjoys taking the
motorbike out for a ride, but doesn’t get much of a chance these days. Bree also enjoys craft, sewing and being
creative.
Tania is the 3 year old program assistant. She has been at Puckapunyal Kindergarten
for 4 years in various roles throughout the kinder. She has also worked as an additional
assistant in various Kinders around the area. She has been working with children for more
than 16yrs. Tania lives in Tyaak with my Husband, Tony and children Joel (15), Jonas (14)
and Jasmine (11). She enjoys spending time with friends & family and pottering around the
garden looking after their animals. Tania enjoys working with children because it's a job
she loves as there is never a dull moment!!
4 year old room:
Kerry is the 4 year old program educator, she works alongside assistants Sharon and
Carly. Kerry has a Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education and has been working
in the field for 15 years, the last 7 at Puckapunyal Kinder. Kerry lives in Broadford and
loves spending time with family and friends, she follows the AFL Premiers, Hawthorn and
has wanted to be a kinder teacher since she went to kinder.
Sharon lives in the nearby town of Avenel & has worked in kindergarten for 31 years,
proof that she really does enjoy guiding the learning experiences of kindergarten children!
Sharon has a Diploma in Children's Services, is our Book Club Organiser & a member of our
WH&S committee. Outside of work, her interests include being part of a local craft group,
walking with her much-loved Dalmatian, gardening and cheering on the Collingwood Football
Club!!
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Meet Carly:
Hello,
My name is Carly. I have been a relief staff member for the Puckapunyal Kindergarten Association since 2009. I
achieved my Cert 3 in Children’s Services in 2012 and my Diploma in 2014. Over the past 4
years I have also done relief work for Mission Australia Early Learning Services (I started
there when it was B4 Kids), Scope and the Mitchell Shire Kindergarten Services in Seymour
(full-time assistant’s role in 2013), Broadford, Kilmore and Wallan.
I am very happily married to my handsome husband Matt and a proud Mum of two secondary
school students, Hannah (14) and Ben (12) who were both fortunate and privileged enough to
attended Puckapunyal Primary School for all of their primary school experience. Ben attended
the 4yr program at Puckapunyal Kindergarten in 2007.
During my time away from children’s services I like to paint. I do portraits of people, family pets and on occasion
wedding bouquets in oils, acrylics or pastels. I was involved with the mural at Puckapunyal Primary School and in
the toddler room at MAELS. I care very much about the well-being and development of all children and I love the
Early Years Learning Framework and play-based learning. I look forward to working with the children and families
of the service for 2015 in the 4 yr old room on Friday’s and while filling in for Bree while she is on maternity leave.
Your centre Manager
Janine Harriden
Hi Families, I have worked in the office at Puckapunyal Kindergarten for the last three years. My
background is a variety of Commonwealth Government administration, and I have been an active
an Army Reservist for many years, currently working a couple of days a week at CATC. This is
our fourth year in Pucka. I am a Defence spouse and have children at Pucka Primary School and
Seymour College. My passion at work is providing a service to our Pucka Kinder families,
especially helping new families settle in to their life on base. It can be a quirky place to work and
live, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I welcome you to raise any issues with me, either about
Kinder or the wider community, and I’ll always help any way I can. I hope you enjoy sharing part
of your lives with us at Kinder in 2015!
My Office hours are:
Monday: 9am- 2.30pm
Tuesday: 9am-2.30pm
Thursday: 9am-2.30pm
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Meet your Committee
Vice President, Melanie Johnstone:
Hello Families, I have lived in Puckapunyal for two years, posting here from Townsville in
2013. I have two sons, Isaac (6) in Year 1 at Puckapunyal PS and Alex (4) in 4-year-old
Kinder. I am currently studying to be a teacher and enjoy being involved in the local
community. This will be my second year on the Kinder Committee.
Secretary, Alison Bartle:
Hi Pucka Kinder community! My family has been in Puckapunyal for two years and our
third year here officially makes it the longest posting we've ever had! I have two
children, Jackson (6) and Millie (3). Jackson is in YearOne at Puckapunyal Primary
School and Millie attends 3 year old Kinder. I look forward to meeting all the new Kinder
families.
Treasurer, Holly Tanis:
Hello, My Family and I moved to Puckapunyal at the start of last year. My three children,
Jake 10, Hannah 4 and Caleb 2 so far are loving all the native animals you find here in
this unique community. I’m excited to be involved with kinder this year and can’t wait to
get started!
Newsletter and website Co-ordinator,
Bronwyn Collis:
Hi, I have been in Puckapunyal since January of 2014, I am a photographer and mum of two
cheeky boys Ethan 4, attending 4 year old kinder and Liam 2. I am very excited to be part
of the kindy committee.
Fundraising Co-ordinator, Monica Grono:
Hi my name is monica an I am the fundraising co-ordinator I have 2 children Lachlan, 4.5 is
attending 4 year old kinder and Xavier, 11 months old. Fundraising have some exciting new ideas
and some of the old ones are still here. Our first event will be the Kinder Disco so watch this
space!!
The committee also consists of general committee members, Tamara Pennycook, Frances
Cummings, Rachel Strudwick, Cinammin Morter-Grant and Skye Stephenson these members are also parents of children
attending 3 and 4 year old kinder. Together we will all work hard and strive to make the best decisions for our children,
our kinder and our community. We are always looking for new committee members to contribute at meetings and help
with fundraising and upcoming kinder events. If you would like to become a member or have any feedback, queries or
concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
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WHATS NEW:
We would like to intodruce our new worm farm which is located in the four year old playground. The
children will be learning all about composting food scraps and recycling. For information regarding
donations for the worm farm, please speak to your kindy room teachers
The 3 year old room also has a new sitting mat. The mat and the worm farm, are some of the new
equipment purchased by the Puckapunyal Kindergarten committee.
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Kinder Clothing:
There are Puckapunyal Kindergarten t-shirts and jumpers for sale from
the office. Please see Janine if you are interested in purchasing items.
T-shirts: $16.50 or 2 for $30.00 Jumpers: $30.00
A minimal quantity of hats are also available in a varietyof colours: $12.00 each
Important reminders:
Head Lice……
Headlice is not generally a problem encountered at Puckapunyal Kinder, however, please check your
child’s hair regularly. If you identify head lice, please keep them home and treat your child’s hair. Also can you
please let Kinder know so we can send out a notice to all parents. They may return to Kinder as soon as
treatment has been conducted.
To our kinder families, whilst it can be a very exciting time for children waiting for their kinder session to
start, or heading home after their day, please be mindful that kinder shares building space with other
users. As such could you please keep the noise level to a minimum so as not to distract the other users or
use the front playground/area to wait before collecting/dropping your child off.
Please be aware that in accordance with the Puckapunyal kindergarten policy, it is not permitted for anyone under the
age of 18 years to collect or sign in/out any child under any circumstance we apologise for any inconvenience that this
may cause.
Lunch Box Idea:
How about trying this recipe I found online for something different in your childs lunch box!!
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Servings : 3
Directions:
1 cup self raising flour
3/4 cup Greek style yoghurt
. 1/4 cup bolognaise pasta sauce
100g shredded ham
1/2 cup grated cheese
1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with paper.
2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 30cm x25cm
rectangle. Spread pasta sauce over dough and top with ham and
grated cheese.
3. Combine self-raising flour with yoghurt in a bowl. Mix to form
4. Roll up from long side and cut into 3cm thick slices. Place cutside up onto tray. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
Recipe found at: www.woolworthsonline.com.au/Shop/Recipe/1209?name=easy-pizza-scrolls
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Kids Dance Party!!
Thursday 19th march
Get your dancing shoes ready as Puckapunyal Kindergarten will be holding a Kinder
Disco for all the 3 year old and 4 year old kinder students on Thursday 19th March.
The Disco is a fundraising event for the Kinder and will be held at the Donovan Joint
5-6.30pm.
There will be fun, dancing and games. The children are encouraged to come in their
favourite “dress up” costume to make the night more fun! Children are required to be
accompanied by an adult. Siblings of kinder children are most welcome to attend but the
disco is primarily aimed at the 3 and 4 year old kinder children.
Cost is $10 per family and this includes 4 sausages. Drinks and additional sausages can
also be pre-purchased.
F out the information below and hand your money into Janine in the Office or place
it in an envelope in the secure communication box across from the Office to get
your tickets. RSVP due by FRIDAY 13th MARCH. See you there!!
Yes we will be attending the kids disco party.
(childs Full name)
I would like to pre-purchase the following items:
Additional
7 | P a g e Sausage($2 each)
Softdrink($2 a can)___ Fruit Juice Box($1)____